title: Reduced perception of bodily signals in anorexia nervosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interoceptive awareness is known to be impaired in eating disorders. To date, it has remained unclear whether this variable is related to the construct of interoceptive sensitivity. Interoceptive sensitivity is considered to be an essential variable in emotional processes. The objective of the study was to elucidate this potential relationship and to clarify whether general interoceptive sensitivity is reduced in anorexia nervosa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a heartbeat perception task, interoceptive sensitivity was assessed in 28 female patients with anorexia nervosa and 28 matched healthy controls. Questionnaires assessing interoceptive awareness (EDI) and several other variables were also administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with anorexia nervosa displayed significantly decreased interoceptive sensitivity. They also had more difficulties in interoceptive awareness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to a decreased ability to recognize certain visceral sensations related to hunger, there is a generally reduced capacity to accurately perceive bodily signals in anorexia nervosa. This highlights the potential importance of interoceptive sensitivity in the pathogenesis of eating disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Germany. pollatos@psy.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pollatos
authors.forename: Anne-Lene
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Kurz
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schreder
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kleemann
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schöpf
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kopietz
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiesmann
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schandry
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult